Action Champlain Press Release 5u52h

MAY 18, 2017: FIRST AND SINGLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS TO ALL THE MAYORS OF PRESCOTT & RUSSELL. How did we arrive at a new public meeting? To get back into context and help to understand, here is an HISTORICAL BRIEF of the file: 1. Champlain District votes « AGAINST » a request by Colacem Canada Inc. Requiring a zoning change from rural\agricultural to industrial. On January 24, 2017 the municipal council of the District of Champlain, after a short presentation by Louis Prévost, Director of the Department of Urban Development for the UR, voted 5-2 to reject to proposal requested by Colacem Canada Inc. Our elected , Gary Barton, Helen MacLeod, Paul Émile Duval, Jacques Lacelle and Gérard Miner heard us and we thank them. Two voted in favour of the zoning change, Marc Séguin and Pierre Perreault. 2. The United Counties of Prescott and Russell vote « IN FAVOUR » of the request by Colacem Canada Inc. To AMEND THE OFFICIAL PLAN AUTHORIZING HEAVY INDUSTRY IN L’ORIGNAL The very next day, January 25, 2017 after a short presentation by Louis Prévost, Director of Urban Development of the UR, the UR council, composed of mayors from the municipalities to the West voted with a majority «IN FAVOUR » of the proposed amendment which went against the decision reached by Champlain District the previous day. These mayors from the other municipalities in the UNITED counties include, Guy Desjardins (Rockland), François St Amour (La Nation), Conrad La Madeleine (Casselman), & Pierre Leroux (Russell), reversed the decision that respected the wishes of the majority of the citizens from here. The mayor of Alfred-Plantagenet, Fernand Dicaire, was absent the day of the vote, but he had submitted his written of the proposal to Louis Prévost, Director of the Department of Urban Development for the UR. Their vote ed the amendment to the official plan, authorizing heavy industry in L’Orignal via the construction of a cement plant in an agricultural area, an inhabited rural district. It should be noted that the mayors who voted in favour of the amendment do not appear to be informed regarding the dangers of the Colacem Canada Inc. cement plan project or the position of the vast majority of the citizens of our community who do not want to see L’Orignal designated as a ‘heavy industry’ area. 3.

Citizens mobilized and ACTION CHAMPLAIN FILES NOTICE OF APPEAL AGAINST THE UR

On February 21, 2017, Action Champlain, ed by our lawyers, filed a Notice of Appeal with the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). Action Champlain asked the OMB to invalidate the decision to approve the Amendment, based primarily on the fact that the UR had not complied with the procedural requirements imposed by law. Most specifically, the UR was required to hold a public meeting to allow interested persons to express their views on the Amendment. The meeting of October 17th, 2016, which was meant to be such a meeting, did not respect the requirements of the law, since only three of the eight of the Council were present.

4. The United Counties of Prescott and Russell RECOGNIZE THE PROCEDURAL VICE; THEY MUST RESTART THE VOTING PROCESS: NEW PUBLIC MEETING Action Champlain, with the of their lawyers, obtained that the UR must hold a new public meeting. The decision taken on January 25th is null and void, which means the UR council must also vote again on the amendment to the official plan authorizing heavy industry in L’Orignal. This public meeting will be held Thursday May 18th at the Vankleek Hill arena, 36 Mill Street at 6 p.m. to share your points of view and your position regarding the cement plan with the UR council who will eventually have to vote again on the amendment. MAY 18TH, 2017- FIRST AND SINGLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITIZENS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS TO ALL THE MAYORS OF PRESCOTT & RUSSELL. The public meeting scheduled for May 18th is extremely important, since it will allow you to express your disagreement with the proposed amendment to the official plan authorizing heavy industry in L’Orignal. It will be a perfect opportunity to influence the mayors from the other regions of the UNITED Counties so that they may make an informed decision this time around. We know that, for some, it is demanding to ask you to attend this public meeting in Vankleek Hill on May 18th at 6:00 p.m. Know, however, that this unique opportunity will permit us to elaborate on our position. We will have our voices heard by the powers that be who do not live here and who do not know our position, nor the consequences linked to heavy industry in an inhabited agricultural area and most specifically the negative impacts a cement plant would have on our health, our lives. Thanks to the extraordinary solidarity of our citizens and the defense fund raiser, the lawyers Ronald F. Caza & Érik Labelle Eastaugh, your lawyers, will be present and will give an information session to update the mayors of the United Counties and to inform them on the dangers linked to the cement plant and the legal reasons that will prevent the project from going forward. An urban planner will also be present to give important information linked to his field of expertise. THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS - HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 18. How about challenging ourselves to bring 2 family or friends, or neighbours to accompany us to the meeting on May 18th? We would be more numerous to demonstrate our commitment to the cause, our interest in not suffering the impact of a cement plant near our homes. SEE YOU SOON!